Atlantic City casino unions have mixed feelings about smoking woes
Atlantic City's two casino unions have taken different positions on continuing to allow indoor smoking at casinos.
Unite Here Local 54 and the United Auto Workers (UAW) are two major unions representing many workers at nine New Jersey Shore casinos.
Unite Here represents non-gaming workers such as bartenders and servers, kitchen workers, waiters and housekeepers. The UAW in Atlantic City represents table game dealers, slot machine attendants and technicians, casino hosts, cage cashiers, simulcast employees and keno operators.
Unite Here opposes the state's efforts to completely ban indoor smoking in casinos. The United Auto Workers wants to force smokers to go outside and light up cigarettes, cigars or e-cigarettes.
Executives at Unite Here said they do not support smoking but believe a complete ban on indoor smoking would harm the local gaming industry, which is already struggling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conflicting Opinions
Unite Here Local 54 President Donna DiCaprio said now is not the time for New Jersey lawmakers to close the casino smoking loophole in the state's 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act. DiCaprio shared the impression that the New Jersey Casino Association, which represents the interests of nine resorts in Trenton, argued that the smoking ban would deter some gamblers and lead to layoffs across the city.
DiCaprio supports legislative efforts to change smoking rules at casinos. One idea is to only allow smoking in enclosed game rooms. The proposed legislation would prohibit casinos from forcing employees to work in smoke-filled rooms.
"We believe the current system can and should be improved, but a blanket smoking ban is simply not the answer," DiCaprio told CBS Philadelphia.
UAW President Shawn Fain disagrees. He said casino workers deserve the same access to clean air as nearly every other worker in New Jersey.
Every worker deserves a safe and healthy workplace," Fein said. "This is a basic human right. Atlantic City casinos force workers to risk their health and future. "
Fain's UAW is helping pay for a lawsuit against the state that alleges a 2006 smoking law violated the rights of casino workers. The lawsuit seeks to get a state judge to overturn the casino's smoking ban.
Industry Health
New Jersey casino lobbies continue to emphasize that these are life-sustaining measures. Casino executives and industry representatives cited a variety of reasons for the situation, including inflation, a tight labor market, rising labor costs and increased competition.
However, data from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement does not necessarily support this claim.
As reported this week, Atlantic City casinos took in less revenue last year than in 2022. Six of the nine casinos reported a decline in total operating profits, although all nine casinos remained profitable.
Profits totaled $744.7 million in 2023, down 1.6%, or $12 million, from the previous year. However, profits in 2023 are significantly higher than in pre-pandemic 2019, when total revenue was $613 million.
Profit growth came from market leaders Borgata, Hard Rock, Ocean and Tropicana. Five other casinos (Bally's, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Harrah's and Resorts) posted lower profits in 2023 than in 2019.
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Source: www.casino.org
